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    Psalms (Volume 2)
    Psalms (Volume 2)
    Psalms (Volume 2)
    Ebook387 pages8 hours

    Psalms (Volume 2)

    By F. Wayne Mac Leod

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    About this ebook

    This is volume 2 of a two volume set on the book of Psalms. Psalms is divided into five books. This volume covers books 3 to 5 of the psalms of Israel (Psalm 73 to Psalm 150).

    The Psalms of Israel were used in the worship of God from David onward. In some cases they were written to be sung by temple musicians on a particular occasion. Some of the psalms contain instructions regarding the type of instruments to be played while they were sung. Psalm 5 for example was written for flutes. Psalm 6, on the other hand was written for stringed instruments.

    The book of Psalms is probably one of the most beloved of all books of the Bible. The reason for this appears to be in the honesty of the psalmists. They share their struggles and pains. They also share their victories and hope in the Lord.

    One of the great themes of the Psalms is the Lord's care and concern for those who belong to Him. The Lord is a shepherd, a warrior, a fortress and a rock for all who will come to Him. He hears the cries of His children. He is a God who is very near. He forgives and restores His children.

    The book of Psalms reflects the intimacy God desires from all of us. The honest questions of God's children do not threaten Him. The failures of His children do not change His love for them. God delights in the thirsting and repentant heart of His people. Psalms is a book of praise and thanksgiving. It reveals the ups and downs of life on this earth under the care and provision of a loving and compassionate God.

    This commentary examines each of the psalms and shows their practical application to the life of the reader. Each chapter concludes with some questions to consider and some points for prayer to help the reader apply the truth of each passage to his or her own life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherF. Wayne Mac Leod
    Release dateDec 19, 2014
    ISBN9781310245473
    Psalms (Volume 2)
    Author

    F. Wayne Mac Leod

    F. Wayne Mac Leod was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada and received his education at Ontario Bible College, University of Waterloo and Ontario Theological Seminary. He was ordained at Hespeler Baptist Church, Cambridge, Ontario in 1991. He and his wife, Diane served as missionaries with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship (now merged with SIM) on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean from 1985-1993 where he was involved in church development and leadership training. He is presently involved in a writing ministry and is a member of Action International Ministries.

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      Psalms (Volume 2) - F. Wayne Mac Leod

      Authorship

      The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 psalms written by a variety of authors. They were gathered and put into this collection over a period of many years. King David is credited with writing about two-thirds of the psalms found in this collection. Other authors include the following:

      Background

      Psalms is divided into five books. The division of these books is clearly marked.

      There is no clear reason for this particular division into five books. It is possible that they were added over time to form the collection we have today. The psalms were used in the worship of God from the time of David onward. In some cases, they were written to be sung by temple musicians at a particular occasion. Some of the psalms contain instructions regarding the type of instrument to be played while the psalm was sung. For example, Psalm 5 was written for flutes. Psalm 6, on the other hand, was written for stringed instruments.

      Some psalms were written to common tunes. For example, Psalm 9 was written to the tune of The Death of a Son, while Psalm 22 was written to the tune of The Doe of the Morning. Obviously, these tunes were well known in the day. There also appears to be a variety of musical styles used in this collection. Musical terms found in the opening comments of certain psalms indicate the type of music to be used for particular psalms.

      The Importance of the Book for Today

      The book of Psalms is probably one of the most beloved books of the Bible. The reason for this may simply be because of the honesty of the psalmists. They share their struggles and pains. They also share their victories and hope in the Lord. They offer comfort to those who struggle and instructions for those who face the trials of life. They point us to a Lord who is over all pain and suffering and whose purposes will always succeed.

      The psalmists express themselves to God in an honest and open way. They tell Him about their struggles. They show us that while we will not always have answers to the problems of life, we can still put our confidence in the Lord God.

      One of the great themes of the Psalms is that of the Lord’s care and concern for those who belong to Him. The Lord is a shepherd, a warrior, a fortress and a rock for all who will come to Him. The God of the Psalms is worthy of praise. He hears the cry of His children. He is not a God who is far off but one who is very near to those who love Him and trust in His name. He forgives and restores His children to fellowship with Him.

      The book of Psalms reflects the intimacy God desires from all of us. The honest questions of God’s children do not threaten Him. The failures of His children do not change His love for them. God delights in the thirsting and repentant heart of His people. The book of Psalms is a book of praise and thanksgiving. It reveals the ups and downs of life on this earth under the care and provision of a loving and compassionate God.

      Preface

      The purpose of this commentary on the book of Psalms is to be devotional in nature. That is to say, my goal is to show the application of the book to life and our relationship with God. I am not attempting to be scholarly or academic in this book. I leave this to those who are more qualified than myself. I want the reader, however, to be strengthened, encouraged and comforted by the truths revealed in this vital part of the Bible.

      Take the time to read each psalm. This commentary is not the Bible. It is, however, designed to help the reader understand the Bible and its application. As you read the Bible passage and the comments in this book, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths He wants you to see. Take the time to consider the questions at the end of each chapter and pray about what you have read. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit can use the exposition of His Word to encourage and strengthen those who will take the time to read and meditate on its truth.

      As you read the book of Psalms, let the Lord challenge your attitudes. Let Him reveal Himself to you in new and fresh ways. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit would be pleased to use this commentary to draw His people closer to Himself and strengthen them in their commitment to him amidst the storms and trials of life.

      F. Wayne Mac Leod

      Chapter 68 - THE PROSPERITY OF THE ARROGANT

      Read Psalm 73:1-28

      This psalm was written by a man named Asaph. He was a Levite who lived in the days of David. He was one of the men David put in charge of the temple music (1 Chronicles 6:39). 2 Chronicles 29:30 describes him as a seer. The seer was one who heard from God or saw visions. Asaph would express what he saw in his psalms.

      Have you ever wondered why the righteous person suffers while the wicked person seems to prosper? Asaph shares his struggle with this question in this psalm. He begins with a general statement about the Lord God and His goodness to Israel and especially to those who were pure in heart. This was the truth he had heard, likely from his youth. He was, no doubt, aware of the wonderful stories of how the Lord God had proved His faithfulness to His people through the years.

      While the Psalmist was aware of the doctrine of God's goodness in the life of His people, his personal experience cast some doubt on what he believed. The struggle of the Psalmist here is to reconcile what he knew about God with what he was seeing in life around him. In verse 2 he told his readers that his feet had almost slipped and he nearly lost his foothold. The idea seems to be that the struggle between doctrine and real life was such that he almost began to doubt the truth of God's goodness.

      Instead of clinging to the truth, Asaph began to envy the arrogant. As he looked around him, the Psalmist saw many who did not follow the ways of God. These people seemed to prosper. They did not appear to have the same struggles as the believer. They enjoyed full health and were strong (verse 4). They were not weighted down with the burdens of life nor were they plagued by illness (verse 5).

      In verse 6 the psalmist tells us that these wicked individuals wore pride as a necklace and clothed themselves in violence. In other words, their lives were characterized by pride and violence. From verse 7 we understand that the hearts of these wicked people were hardened. From these hard hearts sprang the fruit of sin and evil. The pride of their evil minds knew no limits. They would scoff with oppression (verse 8). Verse 9 tells us that with their mouths they laid claim to heaven and with their tongues they took possession of the earth. They believed that nothing was too big for them. They boasted of their power and wealth and believed that the world belonged to them.

      Notice in verse 10 that these evil men had a following. Their proud boasts were heard by men and women of the day. These men and women came to them and drank up waters in abundance. The phrase drink up waters in abundance is unclear. It may be that Asaph is referring to the prosperity of the wicked. The fact that the waters are abundant may indicate plenty. If this is the case, then those who came to these evil leaders experienced a measure of blessing and prosperity by following their evil ways.

      It should be noted that these individuals knew that what they were doing was wrong but they continue in it anyway. In verse 11 they said: How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge? These individuals understood that the Lord God would not be pleased with their actions but they also believe that either they had adequately covered up their sins, or that God had turned a blind eye to what they were doing. They did not expect to be judged by God for their wicked ways.

      As the Psalmist looked at the wicked people of his day he saw them as a carefree and prosperous people. They lived their lives with no obvious concern for the ways of the Lord and did not seem to suffer for their evil.

      This is where that Psalmist struggled. What advantage was there to keeping one's heart pure? Was there an advantage to keeping one's hands innocent of evil? If the righteous suffered and the wicked prospered, what benefit was there in following the Lord? Was he keeping himself pure for nothing? These things troubled Asaph’s heart. He felt as if God were punishing him for being good and following His ways.

      In verse 15 the Psalmist's struggle can also be seen in the fact that he does not have freedom to express his thoughts publicly. He knows that if he were to express these thoughts publicly, he would betray the children of God. God's children had, down through the years, attested to the fact that God was a good God and that He honored those who served Him. The Psalmist found himself now questioning these truths.

      The burden of trying to understand why the wicked prospered when God's people were suffering became oppressive. What he saw before him did not seem to correspond with the testimony of God's children through the ages.

      The answer to his questions came one day when the Psalmist entered into the sanctuary of God. We are not told what in particular happened that day, but there was a revelation that came to his heart and mind. There in the sanctuary, the Psalmist came to understand the final destiny of the wicked. It is true that they prospered in this life but they were walking on slippery ground. The day was coming when they would fall into ruin. In an instant they could be destroyed along with all they had accumulated. Like a dream vanishes when one awakes from sleep, so it would be for the wicked. Their dream was beautiful, but when they were judged by God, they would despise their dreams of prosperity and arrogance. All their wealth and prosperity would not save them. It would leave them hopeless in the end.

      It was at this time that the Psalmist came to realize the foolishness of his thinking. He had allowed his heart to be grieved and his soul to become bitter. He recognized now however, that he had been senseless and ignorant. He was thinking like an animal that had no eternal soul. He had been focusing on the things of this world and failed to look at eternity.

      Despite his foolishness, God did not abandon Asaph. Instead, He took him by the hand and guided him with His counsel (verses 23-24). God took his mind away from temporary things and showed him eternity. There was much more to life than what the Psalmist saw on this earth.

      It is true that the wicked people may prosper on this earth. The believer may also suffer at the hand of the wicked. Believers, however, are not to focus on the things of this earth. Instead they are to look to eternity.

      The Psalmist realized the error of his thinking. In verse 25 he said: Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. His eyes were taken away from the temporary things of this world and set on eternal matters. He had a hope in heaven and realized that the greatest treasure was not in perishable things, but the Lord God himself.

      He now could confess that while his flesh and his heart would fail, God was his strength and portion. God was his strength in these times of difficulty and confusion. God was also his portion. The idea is that God was what his soul longed for. His desire is no longer for what he can get in this world but in knowing God. To know God was greater than anything this world could ever give him. Now it didn't matter if his flesh or his heart failed him. He didn't cling to worldly things. He had found something much greater than worldly goods. He had found the Lord.

      The Psalmist concludes his reflection by reminding his readers that those who are far from God will perish. They will be destroyed despite their happy and prosperous life here below. They can enjoy all the blessings this world has to give but, in the end, will be separated from God.

      As for the Psalmist, he now delighted in being near God. He would find a refuge in Him and tell of all His wonderful deeds (verse 28).

      There is a radical change in the heart of the Psalmist. At one time he struggled with the fact that wicked people lived prosperous and carefree lives. Now he saw how shallow those lives were. If they didn't have the Lord God, they really had nothing at all. The challenge of the Psalm is for us to examine our priorities in life. The Psalmist came to a point in his life where he recognized that the knowledge of God far surpassed any temporary joy this world could give. May we know the Lord God and enjoy Him like the Psalmist.

      For Consideration:

      Have you ever focused on earthly things rather than spiritual? Explain.

      What difference does it make when we learn to focus our attention on spiritual matters rather than earthly matters?

      What does the Psalmist teach us about the possibility of rejoicing in God even when we have nothing in this world? Are you presently experiencing the joy of knowing God? What hinders you from a deeper experience of God today?

      What do we learn here about the foolishness and shallowness of the things of this earth?

      For Prayer:

      Ask the Lord to draw you closer to Himself.

      Are there things in this world that attract you? Ask the Lord to show you how much greater He is than those things.

      Ask the Lord to open your eyes to eternal matters.

      Take a moment to pray for a friend or loved one who has not yet had their eyes opened to the beauty of knowing the Lord God in a personal way.

      Chapter 69 - RISE AND DEFEND YOUR CAUSE

      Read Psalm 74:1-23

      The Christian life is sometimes filled with many difficulties. There are times when the believer is overwhelmed with grief and sorrow. The enemy may prevail and overcome the believer. Psalm 74 speaks to this matter.

      As he began this psalm, Asaph the Psalmist asked God a difficult question. Why have you rejected us forever, O God? (verse 1). We should not take from this that God had actually rejected His people forever. This was, however, what the Psalmist was feeling as he cried out to God. He could not see help on the way. His agony seemed to be prolonged and God did not seem to notice. Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? he asked (verse 1). He knew that God was their Shepherd. It was because of this special relationship that the Psalmist feels that he has a case before God. If God was their Shepherd then why had He abandoned them in their time of grief?

      It is clear that the Psalmist believed God would come to His people’s aid. In verse 2 he pleaded with God to remember the people He had purchased of old. God had rescued them from Egypt and made them His own. Why would God now abandon those He had paid so much to redeem?

      Notice also in verse 2 that the Psalmist reminded God that He had chosen to dwell in their midst. In the Old Testament context the people of Israel knew God’s presence in the sanctuary where it rested over the Ark of the Covenant. They had experienced the power and glory of that presence in their battles. God had chosen to reveal Himself to them as a people. Why should He now turn His back on them?

      Their city now lay in ruins. Even the sanctuary where God had revealed His presence had been destroyed by the enemy. Where was God when all this happened? In verse 3 the Psalmist called out to God to return to the ruins and remember His people. He reminded the Lord of what the enemy had done to them. This enemy had roared like proud lions in God’s holy sanctuary. There in that sacred place they had set up their flags and standards as a sign of their victory over God, blaspheming the name of the Lord who dwelt there. This enemy had come with axes in hand. The Psalmist compared them to men cutting through a thicket of trees (verse 5). They smashed the carved paneling with their axes. They had neither regard for the beauty of the sanctuary nor any concern about the God who dwelt there. They went as far as to burn the sanctuary to the ground.

      In their pride, the enemy said in their hearts We will crush them completely! (verse 8). They went throughout the land and burned every place where the Lord God was worshiped.

      What seemed to make matters worse for believers was the silence of God. They were given no miraculous sign or prophetic word. God was silent and the enemy went on its rampage. God’s people questioned how long God would remain silent. We can sense their anguish in verses 10-11:

      How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?

      The silence of God is probably one of the most terrifying things the believer can experience. When we hear from God we take courage. Those who have heard from God have willingly faced persecution and death. Stephen faced his stoning with joy and peace in his heart when he saw the presence of the Lord Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Acts 7). God's people here, however, were faced with silence. They pleaded with God to break that silence and come to their aid. Take your hand from the folds of your garment, they pleaded with God (verse 11). Show us your presence.

      Despite the confusion and questions, the Psalmist has great confidence in the Lord his God. He realized that apart from God there was no salvation. God was their King. He had always been their true King. He alone could bring salvation to the earth (verse 12). He had often demonstrated His power in the past. He split the sea by His power so that their ancestors could cross over to the Promised Land. After God's people had crossed in safety God broke the head of the monster that chased them. This may be a reference to how the Egyptians were drowned in the water after pursuing the children of Israel (see Genesis 14:21-28).

      In verse 14 the Psalmist told his readers that it was God who crushed Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert. This may still be a reference to the way in which the Egyptian army perished in the desert after their pursuit of Israel. Leviathan, in Scripture, refers to a great sea monster that is pictured often as a threatening enemy. This could very clearly refer to Egypt. The Psalmist, in this time of silence, looks back to the time when the Lord God reached out to His people in a powerful way to rescued them. God dried up the streams of water for His people in days gone by. Could He not do the same now? The Psalmist placed his trust in the Lord who had revealed Himself to their ancestors as a powerful God.

      This powerful God owned the days and the nights. He determined when it would be day and when it would be night. The sun and the moon listened to His voice. He set the boundaries of the earth. He determined when it would be summer and when it would be winter. He made the good times as well as the bad times. All were under His sovereign control.

      In verse 18 the Psalmist pleaded with the Lord to remember how the enemy had mocked Him as they burned down the sanctuary. They had reviled His name.

      Notice in verse 19 that the Psalmist is still confident in the love of God for His people and His faithfulness to them.

      Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

      The word dove is a term of endearment. The dove was peaceful bird. By calling God's people His doves, the Psalmist is telling them that they are dearly loved by God. All around him was chaos and destruction. The enemy had destroyed the city of God. They had burned down the sanctuary. God was silent. Still, the Psalmist tells his people that Israel was the dove of God. God still loved them and cared deeply for them.

      Asaph pleaded with God to have regard for His covenant. I like to see a picture of marriage. Remember that we have been united with you in a covenant of marriage, the Psalmist told God. Remember that your covenant partner is being defiled by the enemy. Don't let this happen to your people. Don't let us retreat in shame. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long (verse 23).

      The Psalmist cries for justice. He concluded in verse 23 with a cry to God not to ignore the clamor and uproar of the enemy that cried out against His people and His purpose.

      There are times when God allows us to face trials on this earth. There have been times in my life where God seemed to be silent. These will be times of stretching and growth for us. The Psalmist reminds us that God is still in control even when things are difficult. Even when He is silent, He is still our salvation and hope. Trials do not diminish His power. Obstacles do not remove His love for us. Despite the silence and destruction, the Psalmist continued to look to God. In time, he would see His salvation.

      For Consideration:

      Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation to the Psalmist? How did you feel at that time?

      Why do you suppose God allows us to pass through difficult times?

      Does the silence of God mean that He has forgotten us? Explain.

      What evidence do we have in this psalm of the Psalmist’s faith and trust in God?

      What victories has God given you in the past? How do these victories encourage you in your faith?

      For Prayer:

      Do you know someone who is presently facing a difficulty in their life? Take a moment to commit them to the Lord.

      Praise the Lord for past victories.

      Thank the Lord that though He allows suffering at times, He is still Lord and His love never fails.

      Thank the Lord that there is no obstacle or trial He cannot overcome. Place your present trouble in His hands.

      Chapter 70 - ARROGANT PEOPLE

      Read Psalm 75:1-76:12

      Psalms 75 and 76 are a challenge to all people who would lift themselves up above God.

      As he begins, Asaph points the attention of his reader to the Lord God (75:1). He begins with a word of praise and thanksgiving because His name was near. This seems to speak of the intimacy and fellowship that we can have with the Lord God. He is not far away but very near. He chose to draw near His people.

      The evidence of the nearness of the Lord is seen in Psalm 75:1. The Psalmist told his readers that the wonderful deeds of the Lord had been passed down by word of mouth. The Israelites had experienced the presence of the Lord God in many different ways. God had, on numerous occasions, came near to rescue His people in their time of need.

      Notice also that the Lord God chose the time to judge (75:2). Though at present people were acting in arrogance against Him, a day of judgment was coming. All of humanity will stand before God to be judged.

      We see from the first two verses that the Lord God was near to His people and that He would judge all of them with righteousness. In Psalm 75:3 we see something of God’s wonderful care for His people. The Psalmist told his readers that when the earth shakes, God would hold its pillars firm. What do we have to fear? Even though this earth shake and terror strikes the hearts of the human race, we can have confidence that God will care for His own. He will hold the pillars firm so that we will not be destroyed.

      In Psalm 75:4 Asaph speaks about the arrogant. They had boasted in themselves and their achievements. They liked to draw attention to themselves. In Psalm 75:4 the Psalmist commands the arrogant to boast no more. Nor were they to lift up their horn. For the animal the horn was a weapon and symbol of strength. The Psalmist is telling the arrogant that they were no longer to boast of their great strength. From Psalm 75:5 we see that these individuals had lifted up their horns against heaven. That is to say, they challenged God Himself.

      The arrogant were to stop speaking with outstretched necks. It is generally agreed that the idea here is that they were speaking out of arrogance and boasting in themselves. Psalm 75:6 seems to support this idea when the Psalmist reminded his readers that no one from either the east or the west or from the desert could exalt humankind. What do we have to boast about as mere humans? We can boast of our great technological and scientific achievements but we need to realize that all this comes from God. He is the source of all wisdom and strength. Without Him we can do nothing.

      Asaph continues in Psalm 75:7 to remind his readers about the judgment of God. At that time God would bring one person down and exalt another. Our position in this world has more to do with God and His purpose for our lives than with ourselves and our achievements and wealth. God brings down and He exalts.

      The Lord God had a cup of foaming wine and spices (75:8). This was a bitter cup of judgment. When the time was right, the Lord would pour that cup out on the wicked of the earth and force them to drink it to the very bottom. What a terrible day that will be.

      The picture before us is of arrogant men and women boasting of their achievements and wealth. They do not see their need of God nor do they follow His ways. They don't realize that they would have nothing were it not for the Lord God. They take the credit and glory for themselves. This angered the Lord who came to judge them. Psalm 75:10 tells us that the Lord would cut off the horn of the wicked. That is to say, He will destroy their power and wealth. They would fall because they lifted themselves above God.

      Notice also in Psalm 75:10 that while the horn of the wicked would be cut off; the Lord would lift up the righteous and give them power and authority. Reflecting on this, the Psalmist declared in 75:9 that he would praise the God of Jacob forever.

      In Psalm 76 Asaph spoke again of the name of the Lord. In Psalm 75:1 we were told that the name of the Lord was near. Here in Psalm 76:1 His name is described as great in Israel.

      This great and awesome God had determined to set up His tent in Jerusalem (76:2). He made His dwelling place in Zion.

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